A busy day in Kruger with stunning sightings…

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We couldn’t have been more thrilled for yet another example of “safari luck.”

It couldn’t have been a better trip to Kruger National Park, when yesterday, after an early morning departure, we headed to the Crocodile Gate to begin our trek in search of the elusive rhino. Here are some stats on the rhino population in 2025:

In Kruger National Park, the rhino population in 2025 is estimated to be approximately 2,060, comprising both white and black rhinos, according to a report by Africa Geographic. This represents a significant decline from a high of 9,383 in 2013. 

“Safari Luck” prevails one more time. We were thrilled Lisa had an opportunity to see a rhino in the wild, a rare occurrence for most tourists.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Why Are Rhinos Being Poached?

Rhinos, magnificent creatures that have roamed the Earth for millions of years, are facing a grave threat: poaching. Despite international efforts to protect them, rhinos continue to be killed illegally, and their populations are dangerously low. Understanding the reasons behind this poaching crisis reveals a complex web of cultural beliefs, economic pressures, and organized crime.

It was as if they stopped foraging to provide us with photo ops.

At the heart of the issue is the demand for rhino horn. Rhino horns are highly valued in certain parts of the world, particularly in Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine, the horn is believed to have healing properties. It has been used for centuries to supposedly treat ailments ranging from fevers to cancer, despite scientific studies proving that rhino horn, primarily composed of keratin— the same substance found in human hair and nails — has no proven medicinal benefits. Still, old beliefs persist, and in places like Vietnam and China, rhino horn is often regarded as a symbol of status. Wealthy individuals might display it or gift it to others as a show of power and prestige.

The monetary value of rhino horn on the black market is staggering. It can fetch prices higher than gold or cocaine, creating a powerful incentive for poachers, especially in impoverished areas where legal employment opportunities are scarce. In some rural communities near rhino habitats, poaching offers a life-changing payout. This economic desperation makes it easier for organized crime networks to recruit locals to hunt rhinos, offering them equipment and bribes.

This rhino had her horn removed to prevent her being killed by poachers, who only sought the horn for financial gain.

Organized crime plays a significant role in the poaching crisis. International criminal syndicates manage the trafficking of rhino horns from Africa and parts of Asia to markets around the world. These groups have the resources to smuggle horns across borders, launder profits, and evade law enforcement. They treat wildlife trafficking with the same seriousness as drugs or arms smuggling, making it a significant global crime issue, not just a conservation problem.

Another layer to the problem is the lack of vigorous enforcement and corruption. In some countries where rhinos are found, wildlife protection agencies are often underfunded, understaffed, or poorly trained. Poachers may bribe park officials, police, or customs agents to look the other way. Even when poachers are caught, legal systems often hand out light punishments that fail to deter future crimes. Without consistent, harsh penalties and real political will, poachers and traffickers feel emboldened to continue their activities.

They were foraging when we encountered them.

Habitat loss adds more pressure to rhino populations. As human populations grow and agriculture expands, rhino habitats are shrinking. When rhinos are confined to smaller areas, they become easier targets for poachers. In addition, fragmented habitats make it harder for rhinos to find mates, reproduce, and thrive, compounding the effects of poaching.

Conservationists and governments are fighting back. Anti-poaching patrols, dehorning programs (where rhinos are humanely sedated and their horns are removed to make them less valuable targets), and community engagement projects are all part of the effort to save rhinos. Some countries, such as Namibia and Botswana, have achieved success with programs that involve local people directly in conservation, giving them a financial stake in protecting wildlife rather than poaching it.

And then, they were gone, disappearing into the bush.

Still, the battle is far from over. As long as there is demand for rhino horn, there will be those willing to risk everything to supply it. To truly end rhino poaching, a global effort is needed — one that addresses the cultural beliefs driving demand, the poverty that drives poachers, and the criminal networks that profit from the slaughter.

The plight of the rhino is a stark reminder that the survival of a species depends not only on the animals themselves but also on the choices humans make. Every horn that is bought, every bribe that is paid, and every rhino that falls to a poacher’s gun brings us closer to losing one of nature’s most iconic giants forever.

Enjoy today’s rhino photos. We cannot disclose where we spotted the rhinos to prevent poachers from learning about our location at the time, which would prompt these evildoers to investigate that area.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today,  April 23, 2015:

The Wai’oli hui’ai Church in Hanalei, Kauai, was built by the congregation in 1841. For more photos, please click here.

Day 8…Kruger National Park…Stunning sighting in Marloth Park last night!…Leopards and lions…

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Last night, Honorary Ranger Jaco Minnaar took this leopard photo in Marloth Park.

South Africa’s Easter holiday season begins today with Good Friday and will continue through the end of the month. With so many tourists in Marloth Park, we will see fewer animals in our garden. As we’ve mentioned many times, when the park is packed with tourists, the wildlife scatters to their holiday homes for not-so-good treats.

Interesting rock formation in Kruger.

Hopefully, animals will visit us in the garden during the remainder of the month, allowing us to continue enjoying activities with Lisa for the next 12 days, until she begins her return journey to the US.

Here is an article we came across today from The Citizen newspaper.

Search for Kruger National Park lions continuing into Easter weekend.

By Jarryd Westerdale\

“Lions were spotted outside the Kruger National Park on Sunday, and provincial authorities are continuing the search.

Elephants in the Sabie River.

The search for escaped lions near the Kruger National Park is continuing into the Easter weekend.

Multiple communities bordering the park have reported possible lion sightings after four of the predators were believed to have escaped the park.

Areas near Bushbuckridge and Hazyview have reported lion sightings, and officials say they will continue searching until the park confirms their return.

There were countless elephant sightings in the park.

Dogs are called to assist.

Two lions were initially reported to be on the loose on Sunday, with that number rising to four by Wednesday.

A resident near Belfast sent a grainy snapshot of a lion on a tar road to the Lowvelder on Sunday, prompting the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) to begin a search.

As of Thursday, MTPA was still searching and had brought in canine reinforcements to assist.

Along the drive, we spotted many giraffes.

“Our team is still on the ground searching for these lions. Today we are searching with dogs. We are confident that we will find the lions if they are still outside the park,” MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube told The Citizen.

“We advise the community to avoid any confrontation with the lions and to report sightings to the authorities,” he added.

Loss of habitat is a concern.

Loss of habitat and disease are listed as one of the biggest threats to the African lion population, with African Impact warning the animals could go extinct by 2050.

Traffic stop.

“Lions now occupy less than 92% of the land they once did. This loss of habitat has severe consequences. Lions no longer have access to the vast stretches of savanna grasslands they need to find food, viable mating partners, and thrive as a pride,” African Impact states.

This has resulted in increased interaction between lions and communities, while a range of illnesses has affected the lion population.

Our guide explained that elephants brought down this tree. Elephants rub against trees for several reasons, including removing parasites, keeping their tusks sharp, and accessing nutritious bark and roots. They also use rubbing as a form of communication, particularly males during musth, marking their territory with secretions. Additionally, elephants may rub against trees for comfort and to help them fall asleep.

“The spread of feline herpes virus and feline immunodeficiency virus has devastated huge populations due to the low pathogenicity of these diseases,” it said.

May those who observe the Easter Holiday have a blessed Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 18, 2015:

Tom donned a huge leather hand and arm protector and was handed a massive chunk of fresh meat to feed this vulture at the rehabilitation center. It was quite a thrill to get this photo. I love the look on Tom’s face! As their injuries healed, these vultures would soon be returned to the wild. For more photos, please click here.

Day 6…Kruger National Park…More photos…

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What a magnificent animal!

Following are the top ten facts about elephants, along with more elephant information:

Elephants are fascinating creatures with many remarkable characteristics. Here are 10 amazing facts about them:
1. They are the largest land animals: Elephants are the largest land mammals on Earth, with African elephants being the largest.
2. They have incredible memory: Elephants have an impressive memory, known for remembering specific locations and recognizing individuals after long periods.
Some elephants were alone, but most were in small family units and big “parades.”

3. They communicate with vibrations: Elephants communicate not only through sounds but also through vibrations in the ground, allowing them to communicate over long distances.
4. Their trunks are incredibly versatile: An elephant’s trunk is not just a nose but also a hand, mouth, and breathing tool for smelling, drinking, bathing, and more.

This parade started crossing the road.

5. They have the longest pregnancy: Female elephants have the longest pregnancy of any mammal, lasting around 22 months.
6. Their skin is incredibly thick: Elephant skin is thick, often 2.5cm, and folds to retain more water, helping them cool down in the heat.

Some tourists were impatient, trying to maneuver their way around the big beasts, which is dangerous. An elephant can flip a car in a few seconds.

7. They are excellent swimmers: Despite their size, elephants are good swimmers, using their trunks as snorkels.
8. They are extremely intelligent: Elephants are considered one of the most intelligent animals on Earth, capable of self-awareness and recognizing themselves in a mirror.

We waited patiently for them to clear the road before we continued.

9. They have a keen sense of smell: Elephants have a remarkable sense of smell, allowing them to detect water sources up to 12 miles away.
10. They can’t jump: A fascinating fact is that elephants, despite their robust build, cannot jump.

It’s always exciting to see the much larger matriarch who leads the way for the others.

African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth and are known for their intelligence, strong social bonds, and iconic physical features like their large ears and tusks. There are two main species:

  1. African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) – Found in grassy plains and woodlands across sub-Saharan Africa. They are the larger of the two species and have curved tusks and large, fan-shaped ears that help them stay cool.

  2. African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) – Smaller, with straighter tusks and more rounded ears. They live in the dense rainforests of Central and West Africa and were only recently recognized as a separate species due to genetic differences.

There were numerous occasions when they crossed the road.

Some cool facts:

  • Matriarchal societies: Elephant herds are led by the oldest female, the matriarch. She’s like a wise grandma who remembers migration routes and watering holes.

  • Communication: They use rumbles and infrasound to communicate over long distances—sometimes even miles apart.

  • Memory and emotion: “An elephant never forgets” isn’t just a saying. They’re known to mourn their dead and show empathy.
We spotted a yellow-billed stork at Sunset Dam.

Sadly, they’re also under threat. Poaching for ivory, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict have caused a decline in their numbers, especially for forest elephants. Conservation efforts are ongoing, with national parks, anti-poaching laws, and international wildlife protections in place—but challenges remain.

This was one of the few photos we could take of Cape Buffalos, one of the Big Five.

We continue to enjoy trips to Kruger with our friend Lisa at least once a week after she leaves on May 1. It’s been such a joy sharing this stunning bush lifestyle with her.

Last night, we attended Quiz Night at Giraffe for another excellent evening. Kathy, Don, Connie, and Sandra joined us. We didn’t win but came in fifth of 12 groups. There were 64 players for the night, a massive group for this fun event.

We couldn’t believe how many elephants we saw in Kruger.

Soon, Tom will drop Lisa and me off at the Imbewe Spa for a pedicure for me and a massage for her. We booked the Thermal Game Drive for tonight at 7:00 pm, but we’ll have to change the date if the rain continues since the roads are so much worse in Marloth Park in the rain.

Bats were in the thatch rafters at the Mugg & Bean in Lower Sabie.

That’s it for today, dear readers. Hoping all is good with you.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 16, 2015:

In Kauai, spotting these yellow-tipped stamen on this Anthurium was a first for us. For more photos, please click here.

Day 5…Kruger National Park…We’re back from another game drive…

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Last week, we spotted a lion with a Cape buffalo kill on the guided game drive.

Here are some facts about Kruger National Park we’d yet to share:

Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most iconic and expansive wildlife reserves. Located in northeastern South Africa, it spans the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga and covers nearly 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles)—roughly the size of Israel or New Jersey. It’s a major bucket-list destination for nature lovers, safari-goers, photographers, and anyone seeking a wild, immersive experience in the African bush.

With the dense bush, taking photos was tricky.

Highlights of Kruger National Park:

1. The Big Five:
Kruger is one of the best places in the world to see the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo—in their natural habitat. Spotting all five in one trip is common if you’re lucky and spend a few days exploring. There are no rhinos in the areas we visit on our safaris. At some point, we’ll drive further north to spot rhinos in a protected area to avoid poachers.

A “parade” of elephants crosses the paved road.

2. Biodiversity:
The park is home to an astonishing diversity of life:

  • 500+ bird species

  • 140+ mammal species

  • 100+ reptile species

  • Countless plant and tree varieties

3. Self-Drive Safaris:
Unlike many other parks in Africa, Kruger is self-drive-friendly. You can rent a car, grab a map, and set out on your game drive. It’s safe, relatively easy, and gives you total freedom over your safari adventure. We make a point of embarking on a self-drive in Kruger once a week. We prefer self-drive to guided safaris since we can tour at our own pace. We often arrange a guided safari for the extra experience when guests visit.

It’s always exciting to see elephants cross a road.

4. Accommodations for All Budgets:
From luxury lodges like Singita and Royal Malewane to SANParks rest camps (like Skukuza, Satara, and Lower Sabie), there’s something for every budget and travel style. Many rest camps even have shops, restaurants, and guided game drives. Since we have such a lovely holiday home in Marloth Park, we don’t see a reason to pay for the rest of the accommodations in Kruger.

The females always protect the calves.

5. Night and Guided Walk Safaris:
Beyond daytime game drives, Kruger also offers night safaris and guided bush walks—incredible ways to see nocturnal wildlife and learn about smaller animals, insects, and plants you’d probably miss otherwise. We are going on a Thermal Night Drive in Marloth Park tomorrow night.

A lone elephant, perhaps searching for the family.

6. Nearby Attractions:
While Kruger could easily fill a trip, it’s also close to scenic areas like the Panorama Route, featuring Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, all of which we previously visited.

We must keep our distance from large male bulls who can easily charge a vehicle and tip it over.

The three of us are going to Quiz Night at Giraffe Pub and Grill tonight. At 5:30, friends Kathy and Don, her sister Connie, and Don’s cousin Sandra will join us for dinner and to play the game. It should be extra fun with our friends.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!

Be well.

Photos from ten years ago today, April 15, 2015:

In Kauai, the sun is waning on a less cloudy evening. For more photos, please click here.

Day 4, Kruger National Park…Guided game drive…Another fantastic evening at Jabula…

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“What the heck? I’m standing on a hippo!” says the yellow-billed stork, “I thought it was a rock.”

This morning, Daisy’s Den delivered two bags of game pellets and a bale of lucerne:

“Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae). It’s a highly nutritious forage crop used to feed livestock and is also known for improving soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the soil.”

The animals are gathered around the broken-down bale and having the time of their lives. They are all getting along well and enjoying chomping. Tomorrow, we’ll share some photos we’ve taken today of their hilarious antics while eating the lucerne.

We’d planned to go to Komatipoort to buy a few groceries, but now that the lucerne was here, we didn’t want to leave and miss the opportunity to see the animals gathering around the bale. It’s such fun to watch them devour this great source of nutrition.

The yellow-billed stork seemed content, standing on the back of the hippo.

Norman just arrived, but Big Daddy is busy at the bale, and Norman gets all fluffed up to illustrate his dominance. Tom gets the squirt gun and sends Big Daddy away since he’s had plenty to eat. Now Nina and the kids and grandkids are here, and they are making their way toward the bale. Hopefully, the entire family will have an opportunity to dine together.

Four warthogs arrived and are also working in the bale. It’s been quite an eventful day in the garden, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share this excitement with Lisa.

Leader of the troop of the baboons.

Speaking of sharing the excitement with Lisa last evening, we had a spectacular time at Jabula. We hung out with Leon, Fritz, and other people we knew and met some new people. The evening was festive and entertaining, with lively music on their sound system and YouTube videos accompanying the songs on the TV monitor.

The evening was perfect. The food was exceptional, as always, and the staff and manager, Corrine, provided excellent service. Dawn had gone to Joburg to visit her daughters.

This marula tree was eaten on the underside by giraffes.

Yesterday morning, we headed to Kathy and Don’s house to visit and drop off a bag of pellets for them. It was delightful seeing them, their sister Connie, and their cousin Sandra. On Tuesday night, they’ll join us for dinner and Quiz Night at Giraffe for our new team, Smarty Pants. That should be fun!

A lone elephant grazing on vegetation. Elephants can eat a significant amount, typically between 150 and 300 kilograms (330 to 660 pounds) of food daily. They may spend up to 16 hours a day eating, and their diet consists of various vegetation like grasses, plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots.

Today is a lazy day; tonight, we’ll head back to Jabula for dinner again. We have a busy week ahead and look forward to another excellent week.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 12, 2015:

The Jackfruit is known for its health benefits. See this link for nutritional details. For more photos, please click here.

Day 2, Kruger National Park…Guided game drive…Very cloudy day…Excellent evening at Quiz Night!…

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We love it when elephants cross the road!

Note: Sorry about our photos not being clear. Humidity has destroyed our camera and cannot be restored. We will purchase a new camera when we return to the US in May/June.

We certainly had a great time at Quiz Night last night. The three of us went to Giraffe Pub and Grill for dinner, followed by 2½ hours of playing the trivia game. Our table of six included us and Marco, Patty Pan, and Sidney.

A young elephant, alone in the bush.

We didn’t win, but we had a fantastic time. I now see why Tom had such a good time a week ago when he went without me, and I stayed behind, slightly under the weather. When he returned, he raved about how enjoyable it was, and last night, Lisa and I could see why.

Giraffes at a distance.

I sat next to Patty Pan, whom we’ve known since first visiting Marloth Park in 2013. We had a good time chatting and giggling during the game. She is an Honorary Ranger in Marloth Park and works hard, taking her position seriously.

An oxpecker on the neck of a giraffe, eating bugs and ticks.

While there, we ran into a few couples we knew, and it was nice to chat with them during the breaks. After reading our posts, one of the couples came here a few years ago and eventually purchased a home, staying here most of the year. They bought a beautiful house that doubles as a lodge, enabling them to rent a portion of the house while they are away.

Today at 3:00 pm, a safari vehicle will pick us up for an evening game drive followed by a bush braai in Kruger National Park. Tom and I have done this several times and thoroughly enjoyed it each time. Searching for and hopefully finding nocturnal animals in the park is quite an adventure, and we’re excited to share it with Lisa.

A hadeda bird.

The food at the braai will offer some meat I can eat, vegetables and salad. South African dishes are often starchy with added sugars, so I will carefully choose what I will eat, ensuring I stay within the parameters of my way of eating.

In the interim, the three of us are seated at the big table on the veranda, enjoying the wildlife stopping by and an endless stream of lively conversations. It couldn’t be more enjoyable.

A lone giraffe.

We’ll dine in tomorrow night, and then it’s the weekend for two more nights at Jabula. We are loving how busy we are and look forward to more activities.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 9, 2015:

This adorable pair of Northern Cardinals visits us several times each day. He’s sharing the nuts that we leave on the railing with her. How sweet is this! For more photos, please click here.

Day 1, Kruger National Park…Guided game drive…Very cloudy day…

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This scene at sunrise prompted us to take photos.

Being ready to head out the door to the safari vehicle at 5:00 am was a bit challenging. Still, the three of us managed to be prepared to go when Martin, our Kruger guide, arrived in the 10-person safari vehicle with two other guests already in tow.

We were concerned that in a 10-person vehicle, one or two of us may be stuck in the middle of three seats across and unable to take photos easily. As it turned out, there were only five of us. Lisa and I sat in one seat with Tom alone in front of us. We’d have no problem taking photos from our prime positions in the tiered seating game drive vehicle.

What’s the difference between a black-headed vulture and a red-headed vulture? But once again, they found that hemoglobin — and not carotenoids — is the main pigment responsible for the red coloration of the turkey vulture’s head skin, whilst eumelanin is the source for the coloration of the black vulture’s black head skin.

Since it was so early in the morning, the 20-minute drive to the Crocodile Bridge Gate was windy and cool. We’d all bundled up in layers and wore hats, and the time passed quickly while we were cool in the early morning temperatures.

Once we arrived at the gate, the guided safari vehicles were first in line, while tourists self-driving were in another row. By 6:30, we were processed and heading into the park. We used our Wild Card annual pass, and Lisa purchased a single-entry pass. Louise had arranged the guided tour at Marloth Park Info Centre for the six-hour morning game drive at the cost of ZAR 980, US $50.33.

Vultures only eat dead meat. They do not hunt for live wildlife.

Although we saw four of The Big Five with no rhinos in the areas we traveled since they’ve all been moved for safety reasons (to avoid poaching), we didn’t see a tremendous number of animals, not as many as we often see when we do a self-drive.

However, the sightings that Martin pursued after communicating with other drivers were worth the long distances we drove to specific locations. There, we saw the elusive leopard and, later, further away, male and female lions with a Cape buffalo kill.

Vultures are often seen in dead trees because the sturdy, leafless branches provide stable perches, unobstructed views, and a safe place to roost, especially for scavenging birds with flat, chicken-like feet.

We spent most of the six hours racing in the bouncing vehicle. My Fitbit registers the bouncing as if it were steps. At the end of the six hours, my watch registered almost 6000 steps when we only walked from the parking lot where Martin parked the vehicle to the Mugg & Bean restaurant in Lower Sabie, where Lisa and I had an early lunch. Tom wasn’t hungry and didn’t order.

An hour later, we were back on the road, with multiple elephant sightings in the process, as we returned to the Crocodile Bridge, where our six-hour tour was ending.

Spotting elephants in the wild is always an extraordinary experience.

We generously tipped Martin for a good day and were anxious to get in the house to review our photos. Later, we had a lovely dinner, and we all headed to bed early to make up for lost sleep. For the first time since we arrived, I slept well for over eight hours, woke up refreshed, and was ready for a new day.

The three of us are seated at the table on the veranda using our laptops. Tom is listening to podcasts using his earbuds, and Lisa and I are working on our respective websites, posting photos and information about our safari day. Here’s the link to Lisa’s site.

This is a younger elephant whose tusks are continuing to grow.

Tonight, the three of us are going to Girafe Bar & Grill for dinner and then “quiz night,” a three-hour group trivia game with many other locals and tourists in attendance. The locals take this game very seriously, so it should be fun.

We’ll add the remainder of our many photos over the next several days. Please check back.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 8, 2015

A juice bar on wheels in Hanalei, Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

Power outage all day Saturday…Baking challenge…A two hour drive in the park…

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The Crocodile River is very low due to a lack of rain.

Yesterday morning, I made another batch of keto lemon poppyseed muffins, which we’ve been savoring with dinner over the past weeks as we continue our successful weight loss goals. The recipe is time-consuming with many ingredients and requires squeezing lemons and grating the skin for lemon zest.

Tom makes the lemons while I work on the long list of ingredients. Many would not care to make these since combining all the ingredients takes a while. The recipe requires softened cream cheese and butter and some fussing with the “melt” settings on the microwave, let alone careful blending to avoid overmixing. Then, the gooey mess is placed into parchment-lined muffin papers in the muffin tins.

As in the past, Norman is a frequent visitor. We love every moment with him.

The result is the best-tasting muffins we’ve tried, and we shared some with our local friends, who also love them. However, baking in the electric oven was challenging because of a power outage yesterday morning. I was working on the recipe when I received a message from Louise stating the power grid for this side of Marloth Park had a “fault,” and Escom, the electric company, was working on the repair.

The inverter can not operate the oven, but the gas stovetop is fine. There I was with a triple batch of gooey muffin dough and no way to bake them. I considered using the gas grill since baking can be done on a grill, but often, baked goods come out uneven due to the fluctuating heat.

Another dirt road we traveled.

I placed all the dough into a large pot with a lid and put it in the refrigerator, where it would have to stay until the power was back on and I could bake the muffins. I knew the dough would thicken from the almond and coconut flours, but there was no alternative.

This morning, the thickened dough was much easier to form into the parchment papers in the muffin tins, cutting the time in half for that step. Next time, I will purposefully chill the dough overnight.

Louise informed us that the power could be out for over 24 hours. Since it’s been hot, we wanted to preserve as much of the stored power in the inverter as possible. Having air conditioning in the bedroom was more important than using power during the day.

This tower overlooking the Crocodile River was built along with a house, but with all the stairs and sundowners, I doubt it gets used much.

With the inverter system in the house, we still had lights, refrigeration, and the air con in the bedroom, which were the most critical aspects during outages. But the WiFi was fading fast. When there’s a power outage, the batteries in the towers run out, and the WiFi signal to the houses is lost until the power is restored.

Thus, while posting yesterday, I noticed the WiFi signal fading in and out and knew that in no time, we’d be out of a signal. As a result, I uploaded the post as quickly as possible, and we decided to take a drive in Marloth Park to the river to see if we could spot any notable sightings and find some photo ops when we were running low on photos.

We decided not to go to Kruger National Park because it was a busy weekend, and holidaymakers flooded the area with safari plans.

The water treatment plant. We don’t drink the water here.. We are even careful when brushing our teeth. Louise provides purified drinking water when Vusi and Zef bring it every few days when they come to clean the house. We also use the purified water to wash vegetables.

Kruger National Park is on the opposite side of the river, and we decided to drive through Marloth Park in search of exciting photo ops. Still, on a hot day, animal sightings are minimal since they tend to hunker down in their preferred shady spots. We didn’t see much.

As we grappled with photo ops, we ended up with only a few, some of which we shared today and over the next few days. As exciting as Marloth Park is, some days are quiet and uneventful, especially on weekends and when the park is rife with tourists due to multiple national and school holidays. April will be a busy month, Easter, when many South Africans head this way.

However, the animals will still visit us. When Lisa arrives on Wednesday, we’ll keep her busy and enthralled with plenty of sightseeing adventures.

Driving on the dirt roads in Marloth Park is a bouncy experience, so much so that it registers on my Fitbit as if I were walking.

Last night, at Jabula, we had a fantastic dinner with Kathy, Don, and Connie. We sat at our usual table on the veranda and reminisced about many wonderful experiences in the years we’ve all been coming to Marloth Park. They leave to return to Hawaii in a little over a month, and we’ll spend plenty of time together before they go, adding dear friend Lisa to the mix.

The power was restored last night, and the muffins were great this morning. It’s hot again today, and we’re staying put. With Norman and his family here this morning and many bushbucks and kudus, we are content sitting on the veranda, watching nature surrounding us, and looking forward to a lovely homemade dinner and evening in the bush.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 30, 2015:

Ah, a lazy day sitting under a tree with a cold beverage and a good book in hand is all many visitors to the island require to make a glorious vacation. Not everyone is into adventure hikes and sightseeing. Many tourists come to the islands to escape a “must-do” lifestyle, preferring to relax and unwind from busy everyday life. Lounging on the beach, dining in a fun, popular restaurant, and drinking Mai Tais are all some travelers need for a perfect vacation. For more photos, please click here.

Part 3…Kruger National Park photos…Grocery and egg prices…What are we spending on food?…

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This mom elephant and her two youngsters were a delight to see.

The photos from Kruger weren’t as clear as they may have been if the wildlife had been so far away. It was a tough day in the heat when the wildlife tends to stay undercover to stay cool. Surely, we’ll return to Kruger each week as the weather cools and hopefully take better photos.

On another note, we grocery shopped last Sunday at Spar in Komatipoort and spent a total of ZAR 4867.67, US $264.90 plus another ZAR 1162.94, US $63.29 at The Butchery, the meat market in Marloth Park at the Bush Centre.

Elephant moving further into the bush.

The total for the next two weeks, considering we dine out two nights a week, is ZAR 6030.61, US $328.19, averages ZAR 3015.10, US $164.10 per week, assuming we selected the finest meats, vegetables, and dairy products we consume regularly.

Plus, with dining out at Jabula every Friday and Saturday, our bill is typically ZAR 918.78, US $50 each night. Thus, we spend another US $100 weekly, making our weekly food bill, including dining out twice weekly, ZAR 3934.07, $262.10. When we dined out in Minneapolis or  Lake Las Vegas, typically we spent at least twice as much for dining out.

It wasn’t easy to get good shots of the wildlife when it was a very hot day and the wildlife were readily visible, as they hid under cover in the bush.

When we compared our weekly grocery bills in the US, we paid at least twice as much as we do here. It’s incredible how much less costly it is to live here.

Of course, from time to time, we will go to the local SaveMor market in Marloth Park for fresh veggies for our salads and side dishes. We purchased these when we first arrived for US $12.90.

Spoonbill stork: The African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird. Its height is 90 cm (36′). Its body is predominantly white, except for its red legs, face, and bill. Its wings are 365-403 mm long. This bird can be easily identified by its uniquely spoon-shaped bill. At birth, the African Spoonbill’s bill does not resemble a spoon. It is born with a short beak that gradually develops into its spoon-like shape. It usually resembles a spoon right before it is time to leave its nest. Both the male and female birds are similar in appearance.

Yesterday, we had a fantastic time seeing Kathy and Don at their home on the Crocodile River. We arrived at 11:00 and left around 1:30 to allow them to get back to unpacking. It was wonderful to see them when it had been over three years since we dropped them off at the airport in Nelspruit to return to Hawaii for Don’s US medical care. They are thrilled to be back in the bush.

Surely, we’ll see them regularly during the remaining nine weeks until they return to the US. We have lots of plans to see friends while we’re here and then, the arrival of our friend Lisa in the beginning of April. We won’t be short on social activities, much of which transpires when we are at Jabula.

Notice the last item on this list is for a 24-pack of Alzu free-range eggs. They don’t carry pasture-raised eggs, so this was our best option. The price for the 24 jumbo eggs was ZAR 72.99, US $3.97, or almost US $2 a dozen, the same price we paid two years ago.

Last night, we booked our flights, hotel, and car in a good package deal with Expedia on our site. We’ll be leaving South Africa for Minnesota on May 24, arriving on May 25 (considering the seven-hour time difference), and fly back to Marloth Park on June 17, arriving on June 19.

Notice the circular marking on the waterbuck’s rear end. This is seen on both females and males.

We booked the same hotel we stayed in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a rental car, and our round-trip flights. Fortunately, Maisie’s graduation isn’t until May 29, and the graduation party is on May 31. We’ll have four days to recover from the long flights before the festivities begin.

Waterbuck: This is a large, robust female antelope. Bulls have a shoulder height of 1.4 metres and can weigh up to 260 Kg. Cows are smaller than bulls. Waterbucks have a brownish-grey shaggy coat. The eyes and nose are patched with white, and there is a white collar under the throat. The rump has a characteristic white ring. The large rounded ears are a prominent feature. Only the bulls have long, forward curved horns. Both sexes emit a, not unpleasant, musky smell which typically lingers at resting sites.

With the weekend approaching, we’ll see fewer animals when a new influx of tourists arrives, often feeding them foods they love but are unfit for their health and well-being. This is sad.

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 13, 2015:

In Kauai, Tom spotted these two chickens. “Must have been a double yolker,” Tom clucked as I laughed. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Kruger National Park photos…A crazy morning…

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It was a hot day in Kruger National Park. The scenery is always stunning, but wildlife sightings were minimal because they sought bodies of water and shelter from the heat.

During the night last night, when I was awake around 2:00 am, I saw a message through my email stating I’d placed an order at Amazon.com for US $584, ZAR 10659.46, for some bizarre items I’d never ordered. When I didn’t want to get up and wake Tom, I waited until this morning at 6:00 am to get up, get showered, and dressed to go outside for a good phone connection to make the calls to Amazon and my credit card company.

The Crocodile River entrance gate.

Similar fraud has happened to us over the years of world travel, but none for such large sums. After spending over an hour on the phone with Amazon and my credit card company, their combined efforts finally got my credit card issue out of my hands. My credit card was canceled, and a new one is coming to Marloth via UPS within a week or two.

The narrow single-lane bridge crosses the Crocodile River. Boating or swimming is not allowed on the crocodile-infested river.

Amazon would cancel the orders while I removed my credit card information from their system and changed my password. A few minutes ago, another charge came through my email for US $1842, ZAR 33607.23 for ten Smart Tank 5000 Wireless printers at Amazon.

We were startled when we spotted this photo. It looked like a warthog in a tree near the vulture’s nest, but it was likely another vulture or vegetation high up in the tree. The photo is blurry due to the distant scene.

I immediately called Amazon back and reported the new charges, and they explained that they would also take care of this immediately. With the credit card canceled, I will wait and see if it shows up on the credit card today, to determine if I need to call the credit card company again.

A dazzle of zebras.

What a hassle! If this had happened while we were in the US, it would have been easier to handle. The phone signal is weak here, and the calls are difficult to hear on the other end.

Zebras crossing the main paved road in Kruger National Park.

As a result of this commotion, I got little sleep and hope to recover tonight. My Fitbit says I slept 4 hours and 45 minutes, but I don’t think it was that long.

A distant view of a hippo’s ears. We waited quite a while for her to surface but no such luck.

After all that, Tom and I got busy in the kitchen, making dinner for the next three nights. We both love a fantastic keto ground beef casserole with mushrooms, onions, and cheeses. We also had an additional pan, which we froze for two more nights.

A yellow-billed stork at Sunset Dam, beyond Lower Sabie.

We often make one-pot dishes while in the bush, which prevents us from having to cook dinner every night while in the heat in the bush. It is very hot and humid right now. Finally, we finished the task and an hour before dinner, we’ll pop the 3-night portion into the oven. This will get us through to Friday when we return to Jabula for two nights. We’ll heat the balance of this delicious recipe in the microwave on the remaining two nights.

This was the first elephant we spotted, but more later appeared later in the day.

We always add a fresh salad to these meals, which I also made this morning. We’re set for the evening, perhaps leaving time for a short nap early this afternoon. Getting up at 6:00 am, earlier than usual, makes it feel as if we’re further into the day when now it’s not quite noon.

It’s always a joy to see giraffes in Marloth or Kruger Parks.

For yesterday’s self-drive trip into Kruger National Park, once we arrived at the entrance gate, we went into the building to sign up for a 12-month entrance pass to Kruger and other national parks in the country. As mentioned yesterday, we agreed to post the cost of the year-long entrance pass, the Wild Card, which was US $360.15, ZAR 6574.14.

The daily cost to enter the parks for one person is US $29.29, ZAR 535. The annual pass will pay for itself quickly since we’ll enter the park at least once a week over almost six months.

A little further down the road, we encountered two more giraffes.

The attendant processed our Wild Card in about 30 minutes, and we were on our way, 30 minutes later. It wasn’t the ideal day in Kruger for excellent sightings, but we were happy to be there, enjoying the ride and the views. We’ll continue to post more photos in the days to come.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 11, 2015:

We went to a bingo game for seniors in Kauai. A lot of work had gone into preparing the pu pu’s. For more photos, please click here.